The date is May 26^th, 1467, and war has erupted in Japan. My closest threat is the Hosokawa tribe, who controls many lands including the ones dividing my holdings in two. This must be stopped at once. Thus, I have mobilized all of my available armies and will attempt to win back land that is rightfully ours.

To assist with the war effort, I have instructed my Master of Ceremonies, Shiba Chikamori, to construct an inn in Kiko to increase taxation.

Additionally, my Master of Arms, Shiba Haruhide, will attempt to recruit ronin to complement my military forces, and Shiba Fuyuki, my Master of the Guard, will scour the lands for ninja clans.

This shall no doubt be a quick victory for our glorious clan over our foes.

As war rages on around our lands, personal matters are not forgotten. Indeed, two clans have asked for Shiba Hisahide’s hand in marriage, a member of my clan. As the Toki clan is a bigger threat, I shall accept their offer.

Also, looking to continue my family’s reign over these lands, I am searching for additional wives to father my children and improve my handling of martial matters. We shall see if Oda Achacha will accept my offer.

October 24^th, 1468. I have negotiated a white peace with the Hosokawa clan, giving each side the lands they currently have under military control. This achieves my goal of uniting my clan into one region.

This has also given my extra lands under my direct control. Because five provinces are enough for a single man, I must designate some of my clan members as Kokujin of our newly acquired provinces. I have selected my good friend Shiba Chikatoki to assume control over Nukata and Atsumi. This will appease the populace.

What’s next for the Shiba clan? I plan to reach peace agreements with the clans I do not plan engaging in direct combat (at least for a while), and concentrate my focus on targets to the east, namely the Imagawa, Takeda, and Ogasawara clans before turning to the larger threats in the area: the Toki and Uesugi. My court will continue to concentrate on improving villages and scouting for ronin and ninja clans.

April 6^th, 1473. The war with the Imagawa clan is over, with our total victory. However, the Imizu-Hatakeyama clan is becoming too strong, so I have sent ninjas in an attempt to assassinate their leader.

They failed, but escaped without being caught.

My court continues to improve the realm, with additional village and castle structures going up around the realm. In addition, I have invested in a spearmaker in the province of Kiko to improve our infantry shock value.

My eldest son, and heir to the clan, is coming of age, so I have given him the province of Abe to manage. While he should be the next in line for the title of clan leader, my friend Shiba Chikanobu has more approval among the land-holding members of the clan, and he would be next to ascend to the leader position

While I value his management skills over the lands of Mashizu and Fuji, I would much prefer to keep the clanship in my direct bloodline.

March 30^th, 1476. The war against Takeda is going well. While the troops under my direct control are storming the castles of the enemy, a wealth of troops lead by my son is defending the province of Abe from any threats.

I’m so proud.

July 25^th, 1480. I need a quick end to the war against Takeda, as the Imizu-Hatakeyama clan has started invading my land in the west.

My loyal land owners have come over to help while I concentrate on the Takeda (taking newly acquired land for themselves in the process), but I need to bring the full force of the Shiba clan to stop this evil from lasting any longer.

May 4^th, 1486. With the war all but over against the Takeda, the focus shifts westward towards my current two enemies: the Togashi and Imizu-Hatakeyama. While my Kokujin have been taking territory from both foes, the army of the clan will now focus on taking out these threats.

In addition, with the new gains we have made that I have assigned to my son, he is now the most popular choice to succeed me as ruler of this clan.

January 27^th, 1490. I have concentrated my total effort on defeating the Togashi clan. I am currently consolidating my armies and moving to take all of their lands.

January 7^th, 1493. Great sadness as my first-born son has died. I must now turn to my second-born to lead the clan after I have left.

October 11^th, 1494. The eventuality of death has come.

Sadly, the sudden death of my first-born had not given me enough time to give lands to my second-born to improve his standing in the clan. Thus, the clan leadership has passed on to the Kokujin of Koma and Mashizu, Shiba Chikanobu. My son is Daimyo of Totomi, Mikawa, and Owari: high status to be sure, but not as high as clan leader. Hopefully he can position himself, through both direct and underhanded means, towards the leadership. As I turned to him on my death bed, I uttered my dying words of encouragement: “don’t eat the brown sushi.” 

AAR written by: James Allen, Staff Writer

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